What Is Chemiosmosis in Mitochondria?

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Quick Answer

Chemiosmosis in mitochondria is defined as protons being pushed from the inner compartment to the outer compartment through a system of special channels. This creates a proton gradient, in which the protons are diffused using ATP synthase. Chemiosmosis is also known as electron transport phosphorylation and occurs in both mitochondria and chloroplasts.

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Chemiosmosis is the third biochemical process of aerobic respiration and occurs after glycolysis and the Krebs cycle. It creates the proton gradient by breaking down FADH2 and NADH to pump the protons into the mitochondria's outer compartment. The proton gradient also generally produces 32 ATP molecules. Both glycolysis and the Krebs cycle produce two ATP each, for a net total of 36 ATP.